BrainHealth Awards Recognize 2 Former Cowboys for Outreach

Former Dallas Cowboys Lee Roy Jordan (left) and Daryl “Moose” Johnston were presented with BrainHealth Legacy Awards. Dr. John Hart (center) is the medical science director at the Center for BrainHealth.

The Center for BrainHealth at The University of Texas at Dallas recently presented Daryl “Moose” Johnston and Lee Roy Jordan with its highest honor, the Legacy Award, given to individuals whose vision and dedication to brain research help the Center explore the vast potential of the human mind.

“My goal in creating the Center for BrainHealth was to apply our novel, evidence-based training programs to make a difference in people’s lives,” said Dr. Sandra B. Chapman, founder and chief director of the Center for BrainHealth. “Daryl and Lee Roy adopted that mission and have dedicated themselves to changing the conversation about concussions away from one of doom and gloom to one of hope, recovery and high performance.”

From left: Host Committee members Jim and Debbie Francis; dinner chairmen Barry Andrews and Alan White; and Dr. Sandra B. Chapman, founder and chief director of the Center for BrainHealth.

The two former Dallas Cowboys have encouraged athletes of all ages to take charge of their brain health and have urged others to focus on the power of the brain to be rewired across the lifespan.

With their leadership, more than three dozen former NFL players and other professional athletes have taken proactive steps to maximize their cognitive potential.

“Having played 11 years in the NFL and taking countless hits, I’ve heard about the struggles of the players that came before me and the challenges regarding their quality of life,” Johnston said.

Major Donors

Major donors at the Center for BrainHealth Legacy Award Dinner included:

“Through the Center for BrainHealth, former players can find out if there is an issue, and if you catch it early or late, there are things you can do to improve your condition. The brain is regenerative for life, and we can restore faculties that just a few years ago were thought to be lost forever.”

“I really wanted to be involved with the Center’s mission, and I felt like I could be a leader again and get other people involved,” explained Jordan. “It’s great to see the energy and knowledge the Center for BrainHealth team has that they are putting to work to benefit athletes of all ages and our brave military men and women.”

The BrainHealth Legacy Award dinner was held at the Dallas Country Club. Dinner chairs Barry Andrews and Alan White, along with event chair Julie Hawes, made the night a memorable one. The host committee included Allie Beth and Pierce Allman, Kelli and Gerald Ford, Debbie and Jim Francis, Gene and Jerry Jones, Ellen and John McStay, T. Boone Pickens, Terry and Bob Rowling, and Marianne and Roger Staubach. The evening’s master of ceremonies was Brad Sham, radio host and “Voice of the Dallas Cowboys.”

“Before if you had a concussion or got hurt, you just thought you rested and got over it,” said Alan White, Legacy Dinner Chair. “But there are other techniques now that can help repair it, and those are the things the Center provides. Daryl and Lee Roy are not only great football players, they’ve been great role models for so many people.”

“I can’t think of two more deserving individuals to be honored,” said Barry Andrews, Legacy Dinner Chair. “Lee Roy and Daryl are not only friends, but men I respect greatly. I applaud them for leading the way for past and future players to be totally fit – both while playing and after retirement.”

The BrainHealth Legacy Award Dinner raised more than $600,000 to support the Center’s research. These funds count toward CBH’s $30 million campaign goal as part of the University’s Realize the Vision: The Campaign for Tier One & Beyond. The five-year effort aims to raise $200 million by 2014. More than $15.5 million has been raised for CBH as part of that effort.